Tool-box.



No. 690,414. Patented lan. 7, I902.

D. E. FREDERIKSEN.-

TOOL BOX.

(A i umion filed Sept. 30. 1901.

(No Madel.)

ma "cams PETERS co. vno raLwHonwAsnmoToN. uv n.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID EMIL FREDERIKSEN, OF RAOINE, WISCONSIN.

TOOL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,414, dated January '7, 1902.

Application filed September 30, 1901. Serial No. 77,128, (No model.)

To n whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID EMIL FREDER- IKSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Tool-Box, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in tool-boxes. V

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of tool-boxes and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one having a removable section adapted to be readily attached and detached and capable of forming a convenient hand-case for carrying a quantity of tools and nails, screws, and other material used by a carpenter or other workman.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient locking device for connecting the removable hand-case section to the other portion of the tool-box and to enable the locking device to be positively held in and out of engagement with the said section.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofa tool-box constructed in accordance with this invention, the lower section being locked to the upper section or tool-chest. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of' one end of the tool-box, the latch-lever being held out of engagement with the keeper of the lower section. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of one end of the tool-box, illustrating the construction of the locking device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate upper and lower sections of a tool-box, the upper section being provided with a cover 3 and constituting an ordinary tool-chest and the lower section being detachably secured to the upper section and adapted when removed to serve as a hand-case for can rying a number of tools and a quantity of material, such as nails, screws, and the like. The upper section is provided at its bottom with a depending marginal flange 4, formed horizontal position when the sections of the tool-box are fitted together, as shown in Fig. 1, and capable of being readilyswung upward to form a handle or bail for the lower section. The upper and lower sections of the tool-box may be constructed in any suitable manner and may be provided with any suitable means for holding or separating the tools or material.

The upper section or tool-chest proper is provided at each end with a locking-lever 6, and the lower section or handpiece is provided at each end with a keeper 7, arranged to be engaged by the locking-lever, whereby the sections are firmly held together. The locking-lever, which is arranged in an upright position, is fulcrumed between its ends on a pivot 8 in a vertical casing 9, which is open at both ends and which is provided at opposite sides with flanges 10, perforated for the reception of screws or other suitable fastening devices for securing the casing to the upper section of the tool-box. The-bottom 11 of the upper section ofvthe tool-box is provided at each end with an opening to receive the lower end of the casing, and the lockinglever, which extends beyond both ends of the casing, is provided at its lower end with a beveled, engaging head to interlock with the keeper 7. The keeper 7 is provided with an enlarged upper portion having a recess 13, approximately T-shaped in front elevation, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and provided with an inclined lower rear wall or portion to conform to the configuration of the beveled inner face of the engaging portion or head 12 of the locking-lever. The upper end 14 of the keeper is beveled, and when the upper section of the tool-box is placed on the lower section the locking-lever if free to act will automatically engage the keeper.

The upper end of the locking-lever is engaged by a spring 15, secured at one end to the upper section of the tool-chest and having its other end free and interposed between the end of the tool-box and the upper portion or arm of the locking-lever, whereby the lower end of the same will be normally held in engagement with the keeper. The spring is preferably fastened at its upper end to a plate which is suitably secured to the upper section of the tool-box.

In order to prevent the locking-levers from becoming accidentally jarred out of engagement with the keepers and also to enable them to be positively held out of such engagement to facilitate the separation of the sections, the upper section is provided at each end with a pivoted catch or arm 17, having an oifset engaging portion 18. and mounted at one side of the upper end of the locking-lever in position to swing into and out of engagement with the same. The arm 17 is provided at its inner end with an eye or opening to receive a screw 19 or other suitable fastening device, and its outer offset portion is curved, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is adapted to be arranged back of the upper end of the locking-lever,between the same and the adjacent end of the upper section 1, to prevent the upper end of the lever from being forced inward. The pivoted locking-arm when in this position will positively hold the lower end of the locking-lever in engagment with the keeper. The curved outer portion of the locking-arm is also adapted to extend over and engage the outer face of the upper end of the locking-lever,as clearly shown in Fig. 2, to hold the lower end of the locking-lever out of engagement with the keeper. This will enable the upper section of the tool-box to be lifted oi the lower section by simply grasping the end handles of the upper section and without requiring the workman or other person to grasp the lockinglevers simultaneously.

The improvements herein shown and de scribed have been illustrated in connection with a tool-chest; but it will be readily apparent that they are equally applicable to various other sectional receptacles, such as trunks and the like.

It will be seen that the tool chest or box is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it combines an ordinary toolchest and an ordinary hand-case, and that the two sections are firmly and positively locked together. It will also be apparent that the locking devices, which connect the sections of the tool-box, are relieved of much strain by the depending marginal flanges or strips of the upper section.

That I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising the upper and lower sections, the lower section being open at the top and the upper section being provided with a cover or lid, the interiorly-arranged locking device mounted on one of the sectionsand arranged to engage the other section automatically when the'two sections are assembled, and a movable member arranged to swing in advance and in rear of the locking device, whereby the latter is rigidly held either in or out of engagement, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described composed of upper and lower sections, a spring-actuated locking-lever mounted on one of the sections and arranged to engage the other section, and a pivoted arm arranged adjacent to the locking-lever in position to extend in advance or in rear of the same and rigidly locking the lever in or out of engagement, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a keeper, a spring-actuated locking-lever provided with means for engaging the keeper, and a pivoted arm having an offset engaging portion arranged to extend in advance or in rear of the locking-lever and rigidly locking the lever against movement in either direction to hold the same in or out of engagment with the keeper, substantially as described.

In testimony that I- claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID EMIL FREDERIKSEN.

vWVitnesses: ANNA WENDT, E. G. H. WENDT. 

